There are 2 types of synthesis:
Narrative seeks to answer the following:
- Does the intervention work? Why? and for Whom?
- How can the results of all studies be described so that they will be identifiable and comparable across studies?
- What is the relationship of the data within and between studies?
- How robust is the synthesis?
Narrative analysis includes a "Discussion" section with the following subheadings:
- Overall completeness and applicability of evidence
- Quality of the evidence
- Potential biases in the review process
Metanalysis
- Statistically combines data from all included studies to give an overall result
- May need to use software to ensure that data is combined appropriately
- Requires separate metanalysis for each included study type
- Will render as a Forest Plot
- Also needs some discussion
